The Water Princess: Clean Water and Sanitation
Title of Project: The Water Princess: Clean Water and Sanitation
Schools and Teachers
Francis. X Hegarty Elementary School Teachers: Stacy Berkowitz and Meghan Gallagher
ENL Proficiency Level | ENL Program | Standards | Technology
Appropriate for all English Proficiency Levels | Stand-Alone | 2R7 32R1 K-LS1-1 | Nearpod, Flocabulary, Google Slides
Assessments
Formative Assessments:
Vocabulary Matching Pair game on Nearpod.
Classroom Observation and discussions of “The Water Princess”.
Classroom Observations of the students during the Water Experiment.
Summative Assessments:
Students will be brainstorming and creating prototypes of how to make water clean. They will be drawing their plan first and then using different materials like netting and popsicle sticks to create their ideas.
Description
The students will explore goal #6 of the UN; clean water and sanitation. Students will read the anchor text “The Water Princess.” They will discover that not everyone around the world has access to clean water and as a result, must travel far away to find a clean source of water. Students will discuss and analyze the problem of the book and engage in an experiment to see how water gets polluted. Students will creatively develop ideas on how to solve the problem.
Content
I can identify the importance of clean water for healthy daily life.
Language
I can describe the connection between events in the story and scientific concepts related to clean water and pollution.
Technology
I can use Nearpod to practice my content specific vocabulary.
Procedure
Introduction / Reading The Water Princess:
Introduce the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
Engage students in a brief discussion about why clean water is important for our health and daily life. Ask questions like: What do we use water for? How would you feel if you didn’t have clean water to drink? How does dirty water make us sick?
Introduce the book "The Water Princess" by Susan Verde and Georgie Badiel.
Read the story aloud, pausing occasionally to discuss the importance of clean water and the challenges faced by the main character.
Vocabulary Pre-teaching :
“I say you say” vocabulary choral repetition using the word and a picture.
Introduce and explain each vocabulary word, providing simple definitions and examples.
Write the vocabulary words on the chart paper.
Vocabulary Practice:
Play vocabulary matching game to reinforce the new words on Nearpod.
Water Experiment:
Fill clear plastic cups with water and add a few drops of blue food coloring.
Give each student a cup and explain that the water represents a clean water source.
Ask students to take turns pretending to pollute the water by adding a pinch of dirt and food coloring into their cups.
Discuss the changes in the water's appearance and explain how pollution affects clean water sources.
Conclusion:
Recap the vocabulary words and their meanings.
Discuss what students learned about clean water and sanitation.
Emphasize the importance of conserving water and protecting clean water sources.
Students designed a prototype to clean dirty water. Ex: filter etc
Resources and Other Materials
Nearpod
Flocabulary
Google Docs
Google Slides
Reflection
This was a meaningful learning experience for students. They were able to actively participate in real-world scenarios and learn through literature, as well as hands-on experiments. Students enjoyed practicing vocabulary through Nearpod and Flocabulary resources. Students took ownership of their learning and worked collaboratively to solve problems. Students were engaged and enthusiastic.